Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost for you, and commissions earned help support my small business. You can learn more here.
How is 2021 already coming to an end?! In celebration of the New Year, I'm looking back at your favorite content from 2021. This past year you loved my kids activities, food allergy content, and gift guides the most.... at least after my top rated post!
With masks remaining an essential tool for staying healthy in 2021, it is no surprise readers continued to love this post (originally published in 2020)! If you haven't checked it out, be sure to do so! The organization system is great for a ton of essentials, not just masks, so it is worth having even once our current crisis has passed.
You can find the entire post here.
Top 10 Posts Published in 2021
The following are your favorite posts published in the past year:
Topics: Product recommendations, toddlers, preschoolers
Some of my preschooler's favorite toys from earlier this year. He loves him, and your 2 or 3 year old will, too!
Topics: Spring, kids crafts, Easter crafts, activities for preschoolers
With spring around the corner, you'll definitely want to check out this easy craft!
Topics: Food allergies, Easter, holidays, health, spring
My tried and true tips for staying healthy and safe with food allergies this Easter.
Topics: Christmas, holidays, winter, Christmas crafts, Christmas activities
This is one of my more recent posts, but quickly became a fan favorite. Be sure to bookmark it for next Christmas!
Topics: Easter, spring crafts, preschool activities, sensory activities, toddler activities
These plastic Easter egg crafts are simple and fun; perfect for spring, or any time of the year!
Topics: Halloween, free printables, busy books, free worksheets, preschool activities, literacy activities
Even if you aren't a Halloween 365 days a year person, you still need to check out my 10 Timid Ghosts posts. BE sure to bookmark it for next Halloween season.
Topics: holidays, gift guides, Father's Day
Father's Day will be here before we know it, so be sure to bookmark these great ideas. They are also perfect for birthdays or other special occasions.
Topics: food allergies, evidence based parenting, health
There are loads of myths out there about food allergies. Learn more about the facts here.
Topics: food, recipes, family
This family favorite is perfect for a cold winter day! Plus, it is healthy and an easy way to get your little ones to eat veggies!
Topics: holidays, gift guides, Mother's Day
These gifts for mom are great for Mother's Day, birthdays, and beyond.
Other Top Posts
Some of your favorite posts weren't published in 2021. Here are the remaining top 5 posts from 2021.... all published in 2020! They ranked as some of the most popular on my page, despite being a little older.
#2 The Big One (Birthday Theme)
Topics: birthdays, celebrations, kids activities, free printables
This birthday theme was meant for 1st birthdays, but can be used for any age. Plus, many of the activities are perfect for everyday use. You can find this fan favorite here.
#3 Salt Dough
Topics: recipes, sensory activities, toddlers, preschoolers, homemade gifts
My salt dough post is another perennial favorite (originally published right after my blog was launched, almost 2 years ago!) to make the list this year. Check out my recipe, tips for using salt dough in educational activities, and how to use salt dough for ornaments or keepsakes.
Topics: recipes, celebrations, summer, kids activities, cooking with kids, baking
This fun take on the traditional dirt cup is perfect for celebrations, rainy day fun, preschool classrooms, and more. Check it out here.
#5 Body Tracing
Topics: preschool activities, toddler activities, literacy, homeschooling
Body tracing is a common classroom activity, but it is also great to do at home. Get my tips for how to make it an educational activity here.
What was your favorite post of 2021? Be sure to comment below to let me know!
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Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions earned support my small business, and my participation in this program comes at no added cost to you. Learn more here.
Keep your family busy this holiday season with fun and easy crafts and activities.
​Most of these are geared towards younger children (up to age 8), given I am a parent to one and my teaching background is as a preschool and Grades 1-2 educator, but the Farmhouse Style Decorations are great for teenagers.
Shaving Cream Santa
This sensory activity is super simple to put together and, more importantly, fun! You just need shaving cream and a laminated Santa (you can get your instant download here). Add plastic cutlery, cookie cutters, and more to make things even more fun. You can also practice sensory vocabulary during the activity to make things more educational.
Paper plate and Cotton Ball Santa
This is another simple and fun activity for little ones, and you likely already have everything you need at your house: paper plates, glue, cotton balls, markers, and construction paper (though you could also use colored markers instead). Check out the entire activity here.
Create Ornaments
Homemade salt dough ornaments are a great holiday gift, as well as a fun sensory and craft activity. You can find my salt dough recipe and tips for creating ornaments and other keepsakes here.
Edible Activities
Gingerbread houses and baking cookies are two great activities to do with kids that are tasty as well! Want more ideas? Try marshmallow snowmen (simply use pretzel sticks and frosting to connect them, then decorate with candy and/or cookies! You can also try making winter versions of my sand cups (do snow cups instead; use whipped cream and/or white frosting instead of blue frosting, and find fun Christmas candy as toppings)
Paper Plate Christmas Trees
I'll be sharing an entire blog post on this one, but here are the basics to get you started:
1. Color paper plates using crayons, markers, or colored pencils 2. Fold in quarters. Cut out 1 quarter of the plate. 3. Roll plate into a cone and glue 2 of the 3 quarters together (one on top of the other) 4. Glue pompoms, ribbon, sequences, or other decorations on.
Christmas and Winter Busy Book
Looking for ways to keep your toddler or preschooler occupied, having fun, and learning? Be sure to check out my busy book pages, worksheets, and more!
Great Santa Traditions and Activities
Make this Christmas extra magical with my tips, tricks, and recommendations for making Santa even more special. Find everything from activities, to ideas for the little details, and new traditions to try. You can find the entire post here.
Pretend Snow
Pretend snow is a great sensory activity for young kids, and easy to make with baking soda and hair conditioner. There are tons of ways to dress the activity up to be more educational, too. Get the recipes and tips for how to use the snow to promote learning here.
Target Chanukah Banner Hack/Create Holiday Banners
Not every activity has to be put together from scratch. Store bought activity kits are great options, and there are tons of ways to hack them to make them even better. One example is this hack we did with a Chanukah banner kit purchased at Target. You can view all the details via my Pinterest Idea Pin here.
For the Adults: Winter Farmhouse Style Decorations
Create beautiful farmhouse style decor for your home with these easy tips. These projects are great for teenagers and adults, and look great year after year. Read the entire post here.
Even More Great Crafts and Activities Coming Soon!!!
In the meantime, be sure to check out my Pinterest for even more great ideas from around the web!
Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no additional cost to you, and helps support my small business. You can learn more about this program here. Summer is well underway, and so is my summer content! Check out this roundup of great Mindfully Scientific Mama recipes, activities, printables, and more... and stay tuned for fresh summer content soon! Don't forget to follow me on social media to grab even more summer tips, product recommendations, travel information, food allergy content, and more! Summer Recipes
 Free Summer Worksheets and Printables
  Summer Activities for Preschoolers
 Managing Food Allergies Over the Summer
 Summer Activities for Families
Summer Toys and Products
 Summer Parties and Celebrations
 Looking for even more great summer content? Check out my Pinterest account for loads of summer inspiration from bloggers across the web!  Great Early July Deals for Families (Especially If You Missed Amazon Prime Day!)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Commissions earned support my small business, and my participation in this program comes at no added cost to you. You can learn more about my participation in this program here.
Just because Amazon Prime Day is over doesn't mean you can't still score great deals! Here are a few highly rated products, currently significantly discounted, that you'll love for summer. Grab great kids toys, outdoor furniture, and more, some for more than 50% off!
What kid doesn't love bubbles? With 4 stars and at almost 50% off, this adorable bubble blower is perfect for outdoor playtime!
 
This great side table has 4.5 stars, and is currently more than 50% off! It would look great in an outdoor lounge area; perfect for entertaining now that people are starting to socialize in person more! You can also find a similar one in black!
With coding becoming an essential skill for 21st Century kids to learn, parents are always on the lookout for new tools. This coding toy from Learning Resources has 4.5 stars, and is on sale for the next couple of weeks. While we don't have this specific toy, we do have a number of other Learning Resources toys, and we love the brand!
 
A wooden toy truck, on sale, and with hundreds of great reviews (the product has a 4.8 star rating)? Definitely worth grabbing before it goes off sale!
 
This all in one chair has 4.5 stars, and looks like it would be great for anything from camping, to a beach or lake day.
 
Hammocks are great. Pool floats are great? But what do you get when you mix the two, then put it on sale? A 4.5 star rated deal, that's what?!
 
Keep your little one active and cool this summer with a new splash pad! At almost 50% off, this 4 star product is sure to bring ample smiles!
  Didn't see something you loved here? Be sure to check out some of my family's favorite products!And be sure to share!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Commissions help support my small business, and my participation in this program comes at no added cost to you. You can learn more about my participation in this program here. This article does not offer (and should not be interpreted as) medical advice, and is for informational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor regarding specifics related to your medical care.
Summer can be tons of fun, but it comes with some unique challenges for food allergy families. Here are a few basic tips for staying safe with food allergies this summer!
1. Keep your epinepherine temperature controlled.
You may find yourself asking: What temperature should I keep my epi pen at?
Your epi pen should ideally be kept at room temperature, but that can be challenging during the hot summer months. So, how can you keep your epi pens temperature controlled*? Here are a few tips!
2. Prioritize skin care during the summer months, but always read labels on skincare products
Skincare is vital all year round, especially for those with sensitive skin and/or food allergies. Broken skin allows allergens an access point to cause contact reactions, or can result in rashes that could be confused for allergies. Summer sun, water play, heat, and sunscreen are all harsh on skin, making prioritizing skincare particularly critical during the warm months.
Be sure to check out my top summer skin care tips for kids with sensitive skin here.
However, skincare and cosmetic products are often the source of nut and seed oils, as well as other top allergens. That means you should always read the labels of your sunscreen and other skincare products in order to ensure they do not contain your allergens.
Sesame oil is one common ingredient in a variety of skincare products that may be hard to identify, because it is not always labeled clearly; sesame is commonly referred to as sesamum indicum on cosmetic labels. Be sure you know any and all names for your allergens, so you know specifically what to look for.
3. As always read every label, even if it is a product you have consumed before, and bring safe foods with you.
4. Always communicate about your allergy needs and comfort levels with others around you.
If you have a child with a food allergy, be sure to communicate with any caregivers about allergy action plans. If you will be the caregiver, or if you have food allergies, it is still important to communicate about your comfort level if you will be in close proximity to others. Why? Many skincare and cosmetic products contain common allergens. If there will be food present, there is also a concern of cross contact or accidental exposure. It is always a good idea to communicate about food allergies with those you spend time with, because it allows others to take precautions with where they put their plates down, where they eat (and how they clean up their space), and what products they wear.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BRING TWO EPI PENS WITH YOU!!!
You should always have at least two epi pens on you at all times. This ensures you will have a second dose should the first not be effective. That is particularly relevant during summer months, when many travel to destinations that are far from emergency services and/or hospitals. And don't worry; epinephrine is a safe medication! Never be afraid to follow your allergy action plan, even if it includes the administration of epinephrine.
Be sure to share this post to help keep other food allergy patients safe and healthy this summer!
The teacher in me loves creating great activities for kids, and holidays are an amazing opportunity to share them with you! With Father's Day approaching, I have put together a number of printables, all available FOR FREE. Last week I published an exclusive Q&A About Dad activity, for my newsletter subscribers, and now I'm bring more exclusives to the Mindfully Scientific Caregivers Group!
These four coloring pages are great for little kids who aren't able to make their own cards yet. Create beautiful homemade Father's Day Cards by having your child color the pages (make sure to edit your print settings to scale down the size!). Then paste onto coloring sheet onto folded construction paper to create a card. Help them sign the inside, and you are done!
You can also have your children color the sheets and put them inside of a store bought card. Or, use these in your classroom if you are a teacher! However your kids play, these coloring pages are perfect for them!
BE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO THE GROUP AND JOIN NOW TO GRAB YOURS!
Looking for even more Father's Day content? Head over to my Father's Day blog post, with gift and celebration ideas perfect for every family!
Living in Central Westchester County: Pleasantville, Armonk, and Chappaqua
It has been quite some time since I've shared what I have been working on over atWestchester County Mom! If you are local, you definitely need to check out three of my latest pieces, though. Once of the coolest features on on the website are the community spotlights. From the best places to brunch in Westchester County, to community spotlights, you can find recommendations for anything you'd want or need.
I recently published three local spotlights for communities I love:
These central New York communities offer something for everyone; great schools to hiking, amazing food to cultural festivals. Each has a unique vibe, but one thing they all have in common are they are excellent places to raise families. Be sure to click below to read each feature. ​
​Do you live in Westchester County, or a surrounding area? If so, what are some of your favorite places? Comment below to share!
NEW TO THE RESOURCE LIBRARY!!!!
Free Fun Father's Day Question and Answer Printable for Kids, plus 15 more fun questions to ask kids about their Dad!
Grab your copy of this question and answer activity for Father's Day! Guaranteed to get some laughs from Dad, this Q&A for kids is perfect to include in a scrapbook, picture book, card, picture frame, or on its own. Want to see how your child grows? Have them do one every year! "Kids say the darnedest things", am I right?!
You can get yours by subscribing to my mailing list here. There are loads of other great, free printables available on my subscriber's library, too. I'm always adding new content, so once you sign up, check back regularly. Also follow me on social media for updates (my newsletter will be coming out soon with updates as well). 
Are you looking for great gift or celebration ideas for Father's Day? I have you covered with this Father's Day post (more ideas are being added regularly). There are also free cards available for immediate download there.
If you do this activity with your child, be sure to tag me on my social media accounts! I'd love to see what creative thoughts they have about their fathers.
Want to elaborate on this activity? Try some of these questions out:
Have other fun questions to ask the Dads in your life? Comment below to share!
Be sure to share this article!
Find the perfect gift for dad, or way to celebrate the fathers in your life! I'll be adding to this post periodically with new lists, resources, and printables, so check back regularly!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Commissions earned help support my small business, and my participation in this program comes at no added cost to you. You can learn more here.
Great Father's Day Gifts
Free Printables - Great for Gifts, DIY Cards, and More!
FATHER'S DAY "ABOUT MY DAD PRINTABLE"
Sign up for my email list to get access to this printable, and loads more great free content in my subscriber's library!
Free Father's Day Cards - Printables for Instant Download
You can also download one of two Father's Day cards instantly below! No strings attached!
FREE FATHER'S DAY COLORING PAGES!!!
Grab your free Father's Day coloring pages over on the Facebook group! While I share many exclusives with my email subscribers, I also offer Facebook group only exclusives such as these:
Make Memories: The Best Father's Day Activities
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and helps support my small business. You can learn more here.
Make the moms in your life feel extra special by finding the perfect gift for mom (or any woman you want to celebrate)! Whether you have a large budget or are looking for a special homemade mother's day gift, there are ideas for mother's day that work for every family on this list!
PS. We all know preparing for mother's day can be a scramble. Luckily, almost everything on this list is perfect for last minute mother's day gifts!!!
Here are some of the best gifts you can get for mom this year!Spa Day at Home
Make mom feel extra special by giving her the gift of relaxation and time to her self. Start the set off with a luxurious bath pillow, add some shower steamers or other aromatherapy for bath and body options, and round it off with the most comfortable bath robe you can find! Make sure to upgrade the locks on the bathroom to ensure the kids leave her alone!
​Here are a few of my favorite at home spa products:
And, here are some highly rated product recommendations, to help give mom the perfect at home spa experience!
And don't forget a basket to put it all in!
Personalized Jewelry and Gifts for Mom
Okay, so jewelry is cliche, but it is popular for a reason! Give mom a special personalized jewelry gift from the kids, so she can have an everyday reminder of how much she is appreciated. Here are a few recommendations of top rated items for mother's day jewelry that she will love (some of these options are even small artisans, so you also get to support a small business).
Pro tip: Personalized gifts can take awhile to ship. If they won't be to your home in time for mother's day, don't panic! Print a picture of the gift, and put it in a card. This has been a way that my husband has dealt with the issue, and I am always super excited about the gift that is on it's way!
Homemade Gifts for Mom
What mom doesn't love a homemade mother's day gift?! Here is some inspiration to help you find the perfect handmade gift for mom this year!
From Baby/For Mom on Her First Mother's Day: Footprint Flower Art
Ideas for homemade gifts from older children:
Left: Jewelry box w/ photo Right: Photo jewelry box on left, gratitude tree on right (sans tags)
From the Entire Family:
Give Mom Memories and Experiences
This is my favorite way to celebrate Mother's Day! Every year my husband and child bring me breakfast in bed. We then go to the local nursery and pick out the perfect new perennials, bushes, or a new tree, which my husband plants for me. Sometimes we go out for a nice dinner, other times my husband cooks (he is a chef, so I can't complain about staying in!!). Here are some other ways to show mom you appreciate her this Mother's Day!
Didn't find what you were looking for on this list? Amazon has a great mother's day gift guide full of unique, handmade items! Or, check out my holiday gift guide for her for even more inspiration!
Don't forget to pin this to reference later!
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Disclaimer: Content on this website is meant for informational and educational purposes. Nothing found on The Mindfully Scientific Mama constitutes medical or psychological advice. Always consult a profession in the respect field for advice specific to your situation. Read more about this site's terms and conditions here.
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